Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will place in the Library a list of the workplace benefits that his Department provides to its staff with caring responsibilities.

The Department recognises the importance of supporting employees with caring responsibilities.

Our aim is to enable individuals to undertake their caring responsibilities while feeling engaged and productive in the work they do. In order to support this, the Department offers employees benefits and flexibilities. This includes flexible working arrangements, time off/leave, access to supportive programmes and networks, and Coronavirus specific Special Leave with pay. All requests for flexible working arrangements or non-statutory leave are considered in the context of business need.

We are responding to this question in relation to carers, as defined in our Carers Charter, as anyone who cares for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem, or an addiction, cannot cope without their support.